Noticeable no shows

Four of LSU’s combine invitees participated only in position drills Wednesday, including running back Derrius Guice, wide receiver DJ Chark, quarterback Danny Etling and center Will Clapp.

Offensive lineman Toby Weathersby also held out of most drills with the exception of vertical jump.

For Chark, it wasn’t a surprise he sat on his previous times after running a 4.34 in the 40 as the fastest receiver.

“People always said I was fast, people knew I was fast, I said I was fast,” Chark said. “But nobody knew how fast. I haven’t been timed since high school, so be able to come out and show 4.34, fastest receiver, pretty elite speed, that’s one of the things I can do but not the only thing I could do.”

#LSU WR DJ Chark on his 4.34 time in the 40 at the NFL Combine (he did not run at Pro Day):

Getting a shot?

Of the 26 athletes who worked out, two never played football at LSU.

Brian Bridgewater, who played forward on the LSU basketball team from 2014-17, and Aaron Ernest, a 11-time All-American sprinter from 2012-15, were in the large group hoping to catch the eye of scouts.

Bridgewater played tight end for Episcopal and Scotlandville high schools and Ernest, a native New Orleanian, played wide receiver in high school in Alabama after relocating after Hurricane Katrina.

Bridgewater said he got some nice feedback from the scouts about his pass-catching ability, while Ernest wowed the group with times of 4.31 and 4.33 seconds in the 40 as well as a 37½-inch vertical leap. The 5-foot-11, 166-pounder also did 12 reps in the bench press.

Familiar faces

A large group of former LSU players who were on NFL rosters last fall were on hand to watch the newest crop of Tigers get their shot Wednesday.

Among the players who were in the same position a year ago and returned to lend their support were Leonard Fournette (Jacksonville), Tre’Davious White (Buffalo), Kendell Beckwith (Tampa Bay), Ethan Pocic (Seattle), Davon Godchaux (Miami) and Tashawn Bower (Minnesota).

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